Early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes

Doctors may soon have a new tool for predicting a patient’s likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.

The key is the pancreas – the organ that produces insulin. Accumulation of pancreatic fat is common in diabetes. But because the pancreas is tucked behind the stomach and against the small intestine, getting a view of the organ is difficult, so a biopsy is necessary to assess fat buildup.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have devised a way to use magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to examine the pancreas – a method that’s fast, noninvasive, and doesn’t expose the patient to harmful radiation.

In a recent trial, nearly 80 volunteers were examined using MRS. Results showed significantly higher amounts of pancreatic fat in subjects with symptoms of metabolic syndrome (a precursor of type 2 diabetes) compared to healthier subjects.

This diagnostic technique could provide a valuable early warning for healthy patients with a family history of type 2 diabetes.

Source:
“Pancreatic Fat Levels May Help Predict Diabetes” Science Daily, 9/23/09, sciencedaily.com